Nate Baez of C.R. Kernels forces his way into the everyday lineup

CEDAR RAPIDS - He is one of the best stories in minor league baseball this season. Definitely in the Minnesota Twins organization.

Perhaps number one there.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels beat Lake County, 7-6, Sunday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Brandon Winokur delivered a walk-off single over a drawn-in infield with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning to win it.

Nate Baez played a role in the rally, walking just ahead of Winokur to load the bases loaded. That has been a constant.

The catcher-first baseman went 3-for-4 in the game, scoring twice and knocking in a run. His batting average is up to .349 in 39 games, second in the Midwest League.

His OPS of .965 ranks fourth. He has more walks (30) than strikeouts (24).

It has been quality at-bat after quality at-bat. He’s laying off pitches outside (sometimes just outside) the zone, barreling those inside of it to every field.

“I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t feel good to come out here, play my hardest and see some results and all that,” Baez said. “But at the end of the day, I’m coming out here and having fun. There’s more to life than just baseball. It’s understanding that, knowing that, enjoying every single aspect of life in general, outside the baseball field, outside of work. Just coming in with the same attitude, being the same guy and letting everything else play off of that.”

The 24-year-old former Arizona State player played all last season with the Kernels, but his numbers weren’t that great. He had a .239 batting average, hit 12 bombs but struck out in about a quarter of his ABs.

He entered this season as a guy who was outside looking in, in the lineup only here and there and lost among a large group of high draft picks and legit prospects. But he had a four-hit game in mid-April, followed with a three-hit game a couple of days later and has never looked back.

Baez literally forced his team’s hand. He has been hitting in the three hole or cleanup the past few weeks, almost an afterthought who is pushing for a promotion to Double-A.

“A kid who goes about his business the right way,, works his tail off,” said Kernels Manager Brian Meyer. “He’s selfless, wants to lead by example. He’s not going to say a whole lot. The kid just puts the work in. And when you put the work in day after day, and you stay patient, and you stay with it, good things are going to happen to good people like that. Good things are happening for him.”

Baez said he hasn’t really changed a whole lot mechanically. He just tries to go to the plate with a clear mind and go from there.

“I feel like I came into this year kind of not knowing where I was in the organization, and I’m really just coming out here like it could be my last game,” he said. “How would I play, what kind of attitude would I want to have if that was true? It kind of evolved into not even (looking at) the results, how I did in baseball, but more into, like, an attitude of just being around my boys and having fun. In turn, I think that’s just helped me play loose, play well.”

Baez has improved defensively as a catcher as well, Meyer said. He always has been known as a great teammate who roots for others and cares about winning.

A great story. One of the best this season.

“I know I’m ready, I know I’ve been ready,” he said, when asked about a possible promotion. “But regardless of what happens, I only control the things I can control. Have fun, and no matter where they put me, no matter where I’m at, just do my absolute best and leave it all out on the field.”

The Kernels (30-20) won five of six games in the series and are 1 1/2 games behind Quad Cities for first place in the MWL’s Western Division with two and a half weeks left in the first half. They play six games this week at Wisconsin.

“That was just a really competitive series,” Meyer said. “We’ve talked all year about being 0-0 every day and going out and competing every day. No matter where you’re at, show up, play hard, compete and let the chips fall where they may. I thought this week in all phases - defense, offense, pitching, baserunning - I just thought we competed really well the entire week.

“A solid week of baseball.”

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